Pneumatic water elevator



'T. E. SMYTHE.

PNEUMATIC WATER ELEVATOR. APPLICATION man NOV. 12. 1920. 1,409,476. Pate ted Mar- 14,1922.

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I l H I'll T. E. SMYTHE.

PNEUMATIC WATER ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1920'.

Patented Ma 14; 1922.

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: jspeifi'cationoflettisietnt Patented Mama, 1922.

Application filed November 12, 1920. Serial No. $23,503.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS E. SMYTHE, citizen of the United States; residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Water Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to pumping apparatus and more particularly to a pneumatic water elevator. The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus. for pumping from deep wells by means of a mechanism adapted to be inserted in a pipe casingnear the bottom of the well,

the mechanism being arranged to automati cally operate for elevating the waterto any desired height.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will include separate sets ofvalve mechanisms and operating means connected together in a-manner that will cause auto matic operation ofthe apparatuswhen an air pressure is applled to the cylinder within which the mechanism-1s mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the;

operating valve is arranged to act with a quick movement so 'that the aim-water, and exhaust ports will-be quickly opened and closed while the device'is-in operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear upon consideration of the following detail through the device approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1; v

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the

single cylinder 1 is of any preferred diameter" and maybe of any desired length; base plate or head plate 2 isengage'dwith the lower end of the cylinder and this head plate is provided' with inlet openingsfi and 4. A

valvejmember 5 is arranged in each inlet, opening and each valve member includes a valve disk 6 to which guide arms 7 are at-' tached for carrying-a stop plate '8 forlimiting the inward movement of the valve disks.

The top oat-the cylinder l has mounted thereon a top head plate 9 and longitudinally extending t1e bolts 10 are extended through the cylinder 1 and through the lower plate 2 and connected to the top head plate9l for prtoperly holding the parts in assembled posl ion.

The cylinder 1 islongitudinally divided by a double wall partition 11 which consists of two plates :12 and 13 laterally spaced apart to provide acentral water passage 14. As shown in the drawings, the plates or par tition members 12 and 13 are perfectly straight, but it will beunderstood that they may be relnforced in any preferred manner such as being provided with longitudinal ribs, or they may be bowed outwardly from each other and madein arcuate form if de sired for the purpose of resisting the pressure of the water. This provision or'the central partition divided the main cylinder 1 into separate compartments 15 and 16.

Near the lower end of each plate member 12 and 13 is provided a valve opening to cstablish communication between the compartments 15and 16 and the water passage 14;.

These openings are formed to providevalve seats 17 and 18. A laterally movable valve disk 19 is mounted so as to be engaged valve seats 17 vandf with either of" the p 18. An elbow pipe 2O is connected to the plate 13 and communicates with the opening inlwhich the valve seat 18 is .formed and an elbow pipe 21 is connected to the opposite plate 12 to communicate with the openlng in which the valve seat 17 is formed. These elbows 20 and 21 are turned upwardly to extend cent-rally through the chambers 15 and 16 respectively. The valve disk 19'is provided with guide fingers extending from oppositesides ofthe valve disk] to be slidably mounted in the elbow pipes 20 and 21 whereby the valve disk may be properly guided when it is moved from one other valveseat or valve seat 117 to the vice versa." 7

23 and within the compartment 16 valve rod 24', and these valve rods carry sealed water cups 25land 26 respectively which'com' sists of cylinders entirely closed and adapted.

' 3. ...,100- 'Withinthe compartment 15 is avalve rod tolbe filled with-water as shown to advantage in Fig 1 of the dr g- The .valveirods' 23and 241 are slidably movable through the water cups and 26. The water cup 25 is provided with a lower downwardly extending sleeve 27 which embraces the upwardly projecting portion of the elbow pipe 21 and this sliding sleeve is provided with diametrically opposite ports 28 which are opened when the water cup 25 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The water cup 26 is provided with a similar sleeve 29 which is slidably movable over the vertically extending portion of the elbow pipe 20 and this sleeve is also provided with diametrically opposite ports 30-adapted to be opened and closed by the sliding movement of the sleeve as shown.

*' Thelower end of each sleeve 27 and 29 is provided with a flange 31 and the vertical portion of each-elbow pipe 20 and 21 is provided with acollar 32. Coil springs 33 are interposed between the collar 32 and the flanges 31, the springs being of the expansion type whereby they normally tend to elevatethewater cups.

Mounted upon the top head plate 9 or integrally formed therewith is a rectangular housing having a hollow interior to provide an air chamber 36 closed by a removable top cover 3'? to which an air supply pipe 38 may be connected for supplying air to the interior of the housing or air chamber. 36.

Air openings 39 and 40 are formed in the base of the housing to establish communication between the air chamber 36 and the interiors or the compartments 15 and 16 respectively. The valve rods 23 and 24 are extended through these air openings 39 and 40, the air openings being suliiciently larger in diameter to permit the passage of air when the air valves are open. A valve seat 41 is provided in the upper end of each air opening 39 and 40 and each valve rod carries a valve member 42 whereby the openings 39 may be opened and closed as the valve rods 23 and 24 are raised and lowered. Pulleys or sheaves 43 are arranged within the air chamber, 36 and a cable 44 is trained over these pulleys and connected to the upper-endsof the valve rods 23 and 24 so that downward movement of one will cause upward movement ofother, the top valve rods being thus connected together for simultaneous movement in opposite directions. Two exhaust ports 45 and 46 are provided in. the base of the housing to lead from the interior of the compartment 15 to the atmosphere and similar air ports 47 and 48 are provided to lead from the compartment 16 to the atmosphere. The ports 45 and 47 are relativel large and each is-provided with ,a relatively large valve member 49 while the other exhaust ports 46 and 48 are comparatively small and each is pro- I vided with a valve member, of correspondingproportions, as indicated at 50. The valves 49 are provided'with valve stems 51 and thevalves are provided with valve stems Each rod 23 and 24 is provided with a cross arm which 1S rigidly fixed to the valve rod and has each end provided with an opening through which one of the valve stems extends. Coil springs are interposed between the valves and the cross arms as shown.

hen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the compartment 15 is filled with the water and the compartment 16 is partially empty. The air valve in the air port 39 is opened so that an air pressure is applied from the air chamber 36 to the water in the compartment, 15. Since the water cup 25 is filled with water and is submerged in the water in the compartment 15 the water cup will be properly held in an elevated position so that the port 28 will be opened, the spring 33 assisting in maintaining the port 28 in this open position; Consequently the water in the compartment 15 is being forced through the elbow pipe 21 so that the water will pass into the water passage-way 14 between the plates 12 and 13 constituting the central partition. This water causes the sliding valve 19 to seat on the valve seat 18 and close the entrance to the elbow pipe 20 so that the water is caused to pass upwardly through the water passageway 14 and out through the outlet pipev 55 which has a connection with the interior of' the water passage-way. As. soon as the water level in the water compartment 15 reaches the point near the bottom of the water cup 25, the latter will drop'by virtue. of its weight and by virtue of the fact that there will be a tendency to cause a suction in the elbow pipe whereby the closing action will bequick and cause a quick and sudden jerk of the valve rod 2380 that the valve member 42 thereon will "cause the air cup '39 to be closed with a snap. This downward movement of the valve'rod 23 will pull the valve stem of the valves; 49 and 50 but since the valve stem of the valve49 is shorter than the valve stem of the valve 50, the larger valve 49 will be opened first and the smaller valve will be opened immediately afterwards. In this manner less pull is required to open the two valves49 and 50 so that the air may be exhausted through the ports 45 and 46 from the chamber15. Since the two valve stems are connected the air port 40 will be opened when. the air port. 39 is closed and the upward movement of the valve rod 24 will permit thecorrespond ing air valve to be closed so that the same action may occur in the compartment- 16 as. took place in the compartment 15. These successivemovements of the parts will continue while the air is being supplied and it will be obviousthat the operation will beentirely automatic and will continue as long as Water remains in the well. I

Minor changes may be-mad'e in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

What is claimed is 1. A pneumatic water elevator comprising a single cylinderhaving separate compartments, water intake valves arranged in the bottom of each compartment, exhaust valves leading from the top of each com partment, an air chamber mounted on the top of the cylinder, air ports leading from the air chamber to the said compartments, a central water passage opening at the top of the cylinder, pipes leading into each of the compartments and communicating with the said water passage-way near the lower end thereof, a laterally slidable valve adapted to close either of the said pipes whereby water from one compartment may pass into the said passageway when the water from the other compartment is shut off from the passage-way, air valves mounted to open and 'close the said air ports, sliding valve means mounted on the said pipes to open and close the open end or" the pipes, and valve stems connected with the said sliding valve means and with the said air valves to open and close the air valves as the said sliding valve members are opened and closed.

2. A pneumatic water elevator comprising a cylinder having separate compartments, a water passage-way extending centrally through the cylinder between the compartments,the lower end of the said passage-way having communication with each of the said compartments, valve means to close the said communication from the passage-way to either of the said compartments, an air chamber mounted on the top of the cylinder, air ports leading from the air chamber to the interiors of the compartments, air valves, means to close the air valves wherebythe said air ports may be'opened and closed, a movable connection between the air valves whereby one will be opened when the other is closed, valve stems for the said air valves, exhaust ports, andexhaust valves adapted to open and close the said exhaust ports and carried by the said valve stem whereby the air may be exhausted from one compartment when the exhaust valves are closed in the other compartment.

3. A pneumatic water elevator comprising a single cylinder having separate compartments, a central passage-way between the compartments in communication with the lower ends of the compartments to discharge a the contents of the compartments, pipes leading from each of the compartments to the said passage-way, slidably mounted valve members mounted on the said pipes to open and close the open ends of the pipes, air.

valves provided with valve rods, the said slidably mounted valve means being mounted on the valve rod whereby a predetermined slidably mounted valve means being mounted on the valve rod whereby a predetermined downward movement of the said sliding valve means will close the said air valves, exhaust ports leading from each of the compartments, exhaust valves for the said port, and means connecting the exhaust valves with the valve rods of the air valves, to open the exhaust ports when the air valves are closed.

5. A pneumatic waterelevator comprising a cylinder having a central double wall partition forming a passage-way between the walls and dividing the said cylinder into two e5 1 downward movement of the said sliding compartments, each of the said walls having 7 an opening near its lower end to establish communication between the compartments and the passage-way, a laterally slidable valve disk disposed between the walls and adapted to be lodged in either of the said openings for opening the outlet fromone of the compartments when the other outletis closed, elbow pipes leading from the said openings in the walls and projecting upwardly through the compartments, air valves to open and close the air openings into the y 7 compartments, valve rods for the air valves,

water cups slidably mounted on the air valve rods and provided with downwardly extending sleeves embracing the said upwardly extending portions of the elbow pipes, each of a the said sleeveshaving openings adapted to be open and closed according to the position 1 of thesaid water cups.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

THOMAS E. SMYTHE. 7 

